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The federal government has announced a $1 billion investment to secure rail corridors for the new Bradfield “aerotropolis” near Western Sydney International Airport (WSI).
Described by the government as a “missing link” on Sydney’s rail network, the future corridor would connect Bradfield – and, by extension, WSI – with Leppington in the city’s southwest, providing an alternative to the northbound metro line which will terminate at St Marys.
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“Our $5.3 billion investment in Western Sydney Airport will transform the way Sydneysiders travel around our country and across the globe. Our Government is not just investing in this new airport, but also giving people the connections they need to get there, now and for decades to come,” Transport Minister Catherine King said.
“This includes our $5.25 billion investment in the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport, connecting commuters to the Western Line in St Marys with fast and frequent services, and our $1.6 billion investment in the new M12 which will connect the new airport to Sydney’s network of motorways.
“This new investment will open the airport up to rail connections to Sydney’s South West, giving commuters more options when travelling in and out of the airport and the future Bradfield City Centre.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the prospective link “the rail connection Sydney’s new airport should have had”, taking a swipe at the Coalition, which had shelved the project in 2014.
“We don’t want residents of Sydney’s south west to have to rely on buses to get to the airport. We want them to have fast, frequent rail access, and our investment today will help deliver that,” Albanese said.
“This is all part of our plan to build Australia’s future – connecting people with the jobs of the future, and with each other.”
The news comes as NSW Transport Minister John Graham, who took over the portfolio following the resignation of Jo Haylen last month, comes under pressure amid speculation the airport metro line – slated to be up and running alongside the airport itself in late 2026 – may not open on time.
Facing questions at NSW budget estimates on Wednesday, Minister Graham admitted that the line could be delayed, but was unable to specify how long it would take.
“Public speculation and media [are] reporting about a potential six-month delay,” he said.
“I can confirm that this is a project under time pressure and there may well be a delay.”
The NSW government in January showcased a mock-up of one of the cars on the airport metro. Its 12 trains will feature wider aisles for luggage, as well as other features like digital displays of flight information, and will be capable of moving 7,740 passengers in each direction per hour.
The state and federal governments have also committed $195 million to a joint business case for future rail extensions in Sydney’s west.
